This blog post spotlights One Stride at a Time, a youth-led 5K in Marin County. The event uses miles and music to raise awareness about mental health and recovery from substance use.
Born from a local family’s experience, it’s rooted in the communities around San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Novato. Here, the event confronts stigma and invites neighbors from across Marin to step forward with hope and help.
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What One Stride at a Time Means for Marin
In Marin County, affluence often hides quiet battles with mental health and addiction. This event wants to change that by encouraging honest dialogue in towns from Sausalito to Larkspur, and from Fairfax to Novato.
The goal? Make recovery visible, normalize asking for help, and stitch stronger community ties across the county. It’s a big ask, but it feels necessary.
The organizers say that silence and stigma keep people from checking in with friends and family. That kind of silence can deepen isolation.
By naming recovery and offering tangible supports, One Stride at a Time hopes to spark conversations in everyday life—whether you’re in San Anselmo or across the Golden Gate in Sausalito.
A Welcoming, Intergenerational Marin Event
The event is inclusive and intergenerational. Long-time Marin residents and newcomers alike can greet strangers, share experiences, and build real connections.
Youth organizers will share personal recovery stories to model openness. They want to show that help is available in every corner of Marin County.
- Resource fair
- Shoe drive
- Free T-shirts
- Pancakes and lively music
- Raffle prizes
- Youth-created elements like “Bart the Recovery Heart” and a slime table
The event also creates space for conversation and learning. Recovery is possible for families across Marin—whether in the hills of Mill Valley, the shores of Tiburon, or the neighborhoods of San Rafael.
Youth coordinators will share their stories to make it easier for others to seek support. The aim is to foster a sense of belonging in communities from Corte Madera to Novato and beyond.
No teen in San Anselmo or Fairfax should have to carry their struggles alone. That’s the hope, anyway.
Building Bridges: Collaborations Across Marin
One Stride at a Time gets support from a broad coalition of local groups spanning the Bay Area. These partnerships amplify the event’s impact and help normalize seeking help across Marin’s diverse communities.
It doesn’t matter if you’re in Greenbrae’s upscale neighborhoods, the working-class districts of Marin City, or the artsy lanes of San Rafael—everyone’s included.
- OD Free Marin
- Marin 9 to 25 / Find Your Way
- Marin Suicide Prevention Collaborative
- Community Resiliency Teams
- Kaiser Permanente
- Marin County Parks
Together, these partners work to normalize asking for help, keep recovery out in the open, and strengthen families and neighborhoods from Sausalito to San Geronimo. The cross-town collaboration shows Marin’s shared commitment to resilience, whether you live in Larkspur or Ross.
Resources should be accessible in every pocket of the county. That’s the kind of Marin these organizers want to see.
Event Details and How to Join
The free event runs on Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon at McInnis Park in San Rafael. It’s open to all ages and welcomes folks from all over Marin—whether you’re from Novato, Mill Valley, Tiburon, or Corte Madera.
Families, students, and seniors can walk or run together. It’s a relaxed way to build stronger ties with neighbors in Sausalito, San Rafael, and honestly, anyone who wants to show up.
Curious about parking, directions, or the schedule? Just check the event page for the details you’ll need.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin Voice: Young organizers put focus on hope, help, recovery
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